An owner of property in Iron and Ashland counties that was the site of a contentious proposal to mine iron ore is trying to resurrect plans for the mine, an Iron County economic development official said.

Officials of La Pointe Iron Co., one of the owners of the property that Gogebic Taconite unsuccessfully sought to develop as a massive open pit mine, met with local representatives in Hurley on Wednesday to discuss reviving the plans.

Kelly Klein, director of development for the Iron County Development Zone, said he and others met with La Pointe representatives, who told them they are eager to find another developer for the site.

New ad by Rove-backed group critical of Baldwin

A Republican group founded by Republican strategist Karl Rove released a new TV spot this morning critical of Democratic Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin.

Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies says that it is spending $961,000 in an ad buy for the 30-second commercial. The ads shows an irate Baldwin and says that she favors bigger government and extreme politics.

On Monday, before the ad came out, the Wisconsin Democratic Party got wind of the buy and said Crossroads’ big showing in Wisconsin was a sign that Republican candidate Tommy Thompson is in trouble.

The Democrats cited a pair of polls that showed Baldwin was leading Thompson in the election.

Crossroads ran its first ad against Baldwin in mid August.

In a statement, Baldwin’s spokesman John Kraus said:

“Tammy Baldwin has fought for Wisconsin’s middle class and taken on the big moneyed special interests behind this attack. Now they are trying to hold on to the power and influence they have in Washington and prop up one of their friends, Tommy Thompson, because they know he will continue working for them in Senate.”

About Lee Bergquist

Lee Bergquist covers environmental issues and is author of "Second Wind: The Rise of the Ageless Athlete."